LIVE EP Led Zeppelin (Atlantic Records) ****+
Physical Graffiti is the album that many, including the band themselves, point to as the essence of Zep. I’ve bought the album several times; the original vinyl, the original cd, then the remastered versions of both a few years back. I believe there is yet another remaster to celebrate the record’s 50th anniversary, including this EP on the 3rd disc, live versions of 4 cuts from the studio original; 2 recorded at Earl’s Court in 1975 and 2 from Knebworth 1979, Led Zeppelin’s final show before the death of John Bonham… all 4 performances are frighteningly powerful.
If you own The Song Remains The Same, Live At The BBC and How The West Was One as well as the deluxe reissues from 2014, Live EP will complete your collection of officially available live Zeppelin stuff. To celebrate Physical Graffiti’s 50th anniversary these 4 tracks are specific to the album and, with the exception of Sick Again clocking in at 5:18, the songs are rather lengthy. What this disc shows is a band at the height of their powers as a live act, a primal artifact from days gone by that will likely never come again.
Bonham’s brute force, articulate drumming powers the band here, Page and Jones are in good form, and singer Robert Plant leaves no doubt that he was, in fact, the golden God. The music is tight and well delivered even as it gives some elbow room for their legendary flights of improvisation. In My Time Of Dying doesn’t quite stand up to the studio original thanks to page’s slide guitar overdubs there, but I have no qualms about recommending the other 3. I love the original Kashmir but when I heard Live EP, the version on Page & Plant’s Unledded was replaced in my mind as the definitive version.
When you listen to Live EP Robert Plant’s refusal to get the old band back together for one more go ‘round makes complete sense. These 4 men, playing together, were the ultimate musical power in the universe and any attempt recreate that would not add to Led Zeppelin’s legacy. I never got to see them on stage, but I’m satisfied with the live recordings available. My lone beef with Live EP is that it’s just 4 songs instead of a full concert.
HOT TRACKS: Kashmir, Trampled Underfoot
THE DEAD COWBOYS The Dead Cowboys (Shotgun Records) *** ½
If you think hard rock and country make for strange bedfellows, you need to listen to this self-titled debut from The Dead Cowboys. Roaring guitars mixed with some twang they ride the line between heavy metal and country, but this ain’t no novelty act. They call their sound “heavy western”, which has been described as having “outlaw swagger and a dust-kicking groove that feels like Motorhead riding through a ghost town at midnight. Intrigued? You bet.
The band was originally formed in ’05 by singer/ guitarist Bobby Jensen as a passion project to blend his love for classic country storytelling and the raw energy of metal but life- the success of Hairball, a metal tribute act really began happening which put Dead Cowboys on ice. Flash ahead through two decades and a pandemic later, and the time had finally come for said passion project to spring to life.
I was attracted to The Dead Cowboys at first by the hard rockin’ riffs, but when you get past that and dig into the lyrics, this really has classic country soul too. They play both sides of the line and I could easily hear a track like Hot Rod Vega or Jensen Road playing on country radio today. Jensen has gathered a talented band around him; Katherine “Wildcat” Ray on fiddle, Brian Redinger on drums and vocals, Matt Leoneti on keys and vocals and Joey Shaheen on keys and vocals. People like to label and pigeonhole artists into this category or that- I’m guilty too- but The Dead Cowboys are proof that you don’t have to be just one thing. They might be overselling the metal connection a tad here but make no mistake, country and fist-pumpin’ rock & roll seem to be quite comfortable sharing the same bed.
Of course embracing something like this takes something of an open mind or a taste for adventure when it comes to listening, but just think of the thrill of discovery. My favorite band is Black Sabbath and my favorite singer is Nat King Cole, so thankfully my taste is far ranging enough to include a bold musical fusion like this too. Bottom line; The Dead Cowboys is a pretty fuckin’ cool album.
HOT TRACKS: Bad Friends & Good Times, Super Country Cowboy, Red Vega
TOMBOY Maia Sharp (Crooked Crown Music) *****
It’s the 10th solo album for this gifted Nashville-based singer/ songwriter and it’s a thing of true beauty. Tomboy is like a refreshing breeze on a late summer day… it makes you feel relaxed and at ease with the world around you. I’d put Sharp right up there with Joni Mitchell and Bruce Cockburn, rarified air for sure.
Maia’s credentials are quite impressive; she’s collaborated with and written for Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Trisha Yearwood and Keb’ Mo’. Tomboy is described as “an ultra-authentic Americana adjacent record steeped in quiet gratitude, internal celebration, and a complete embrace of her true self.” It is a chill and thoughtful album, sparsely yet richly produced, that will lead down some interesting trails of thought, which you will gladly follow.
As with most of the records we get close to you’ll likely see yourself in many of the songs on Tomboy. Her vocal style is laid back and warm, almost as if she’s just talking directly to you. “I always want somebody feel the kind of connection to my music that I feel when I’m listening to music I love” Maia says. “I just have to put out my real self and hope that someone connects with it.” The songs are expertly crafted and Sharp’s way with words is intimate and confessional, coming at you with an easy, friendly groove that Ink 19 magazine describes as “like a snuggly hug from a close friend.” In light of the challenges of society in this day and age, who couldn’t use a little more of that particular kind of magic?
Sharp is a multi-instrumentalist and handled much of what we hear on Tomboy, but contributors include her dad Randy Sharp on pedal steel for Only The Lucky, electric guitar from Joshua Grange (Sheryl Crowe, k.d. lang), and stacked harmonies from Grammy nominated Garrison Starr on a heart-stopping rendition of my favorite U2 song I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. Country superstar Terri Clark joins her at the mic for Asking For A Friend.
It’s been a tough couple of weeks for reasons I won’t bore you with, but Tomboy has come along at just the right time to tell me some things I needed to hear. This is a great album.
HOT TRACKS: Tomboy, Asking For A Friend, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
STRAIGHT TO IT Zac Schulze Gang (Ruf Records) **** ½
This is the aggressive studio debut for this energetic English trio. Straight To It exists in that delicious area where high octane rock & roll and the blues happen in the same space at the same time. Inspired by Rory Gallagher, they’re meant for big things.
The band is Zac Schulze on guitar and vocals, his brother Ben on drums along with Ant Greenwell on bass. Straight To It is a blend of melody and muscle that gets your attention right away with a slash and burn attitude that comes from cutting their teeth on the punk circuit that ran through Europe and the UK. Ben, Ant & Zac hit on the idea of integrating that modern energy with the blues, and after 2 years of woodshedding they got their big break at Rory Gallagher’s Tribute festival in 2022. That turned out to be their ticket to the British blues scene.
The Zac Schulze Gang built a reputation as road warriors, playing up to 250 gigs a year while sometimes snagging sweet gigs like opening for Eddie 9V or Samantha Fish, and landing a slot on Eric Clapton’s Crossroad Festival in LA in 2023. Straight To It isn’t the sound of a band pining for the good ol’ days, their crash and burn combination of blues and rock with relentless punk energy bristles with genuine and passionate excitement. Produced by longtime associate Ian Sadler, this disc is set to do for the blues what Motorhead did for rock & roll. Zac can shred when the occasion calls for it and his fat, catchy riffs are driven relentlessly by Ben and Ant’s pounding rhythms. Of course it’s tough to go 100mph all the time, and the ballad Things Change is a surprisingly delicate and welcome detour.
Straight To It is dynamic, aggressive, and one of the best albums I’ve heard this year- no shit.
HOT TRACKS: Damaged Man, The Rocker, I Won’t Do This Anymore
